Jesse Juarez

Deadly force

Police responded to a burglary in progress. Police asked for backup from the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office. By 4:24 a.m., deputies arrived at the home and began questioning the homeowners. They told deputies a man broke several windows and verbally threatened them before running away. As deputies searched for the burglary suspect, the homeowner alerted them the man, Jesse Juarez, had returned to the house. Deputy Michael Taylor said the man was carrying a long-handled weed cutter. Taylor ordered Juarez to drop the weed cutter but he allegedly refused and with the long-handled tool raised, he moved in the direction of the deputy who took several steps of retreat into a field, and Taylor shot and killed him.